Supporter and protector



June 8 1926.

E. J. THORP SUPPORTER AND PROTECTOR Filed July 25, 1923 y [N ENTOR ATTORNEY6 E u u 1 illll 'r Patented June 8, 1926.

UNITED STATES EDWARD J. 'rnonr, or NEW YQRK. N. Y., ASSIGNOR no as. srannmo a nos,

v 1,588,066 PATIENT; oF icE.

NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BUPPORTER LN D PROTECTOR.

Application filed July 25, 1928. Serial No. 658,867.

This inventionrelates to supporters and protectors for athletic wear and more particularly to supporters, commonly termed jock straps, with which are associated relatively stifi' protectors affording protection against injuries.

In Patent No. 1,381,254, dated June 14, 1921, there is disclosed a combined protectpr and supporter in which the supporter portion is formed of elastic webblng and constitutes one wall of a fabric pocket of such character as to receive a relatively stifi' protector maintained in proper relationto the body of the wearer by positive fastenlng devices closing the open end of the pocket. Fastening devices for maintaining a protector in the pocket carried with a supporter of this type are a constant source of annoyance because they are continually comlng unfastened or becoming inoperative. It is an object of the present invention to do away with positive closing means of any kind for the protector pocket and to retain the protectors in such pockets by means of impositive fastening means inherent 1n the structure of the supporter pocket walls. It is also an object of the invention to simplify and cheapen the manufacture of supporters provided with pockets for protectors.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a pocket on the supporter in which the protector is retained in proper position due to the inherent structure of the Walls of the pocket. One wall of the pocket constitutes a portion of the supporter and is formed of elastic webbing in the usual manner while the other wall is also formed of elastic webbing, but this webbing is disposed to run transversely of the webbing forming the first mentioned wall. The stretc of the webbin of one wall is thus transverse tothe stretc of the webbing in the other wall and this relation of the fabric of the'two walls so cooperates with the protector as to prevent its displacement with re spect to the wearer in ordinary use. The inner wall of the pocket terminates at a point above the lower edge of the waistband. In this manner the mouth of the pocket is closed by the waistband when the supporter is in place on the body of the wearer and a protector carried therein is prevented from slipping out. Both walls of the pocket are made of the same material and are secured together by stitches. As no fastening devices are required this construction is very simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the combined supporter and protector showing the elastic threads of the fabric forming the front wall of the pocket, runningin a-vertical direction.

Figure 2 is a view in section of a fragment of the supporter, taken through the pocket in the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a'fragmentary view showing the elastic threads ofthe fabric formin the rear wall of the pocket, runningin a orizontal direction.

The supporter comprises generally a waistband a, leg-straps b and front section 0 of elastic material. 0 represents the elastic threads of the fabric forming the front section 0. These threads are shown as running in a vertical direction. Elastic webbing is extensible onl in one direction, that is,the direction in w ich the elastic threads run, and is practically inextensible in the direction transverse thereto. Thus the front section a is extensible only in a vertical direction. To the rear sideof the front section and conforming generally in outline thereto is stitched a piece 0!, also of elastic material, in such a manner that the elastic threads d thereof run-in a horizontal direction. The piece d forms withthe front section a amelastic pocket in which the extensibility of the walls take place in transverse directions. The upper edge of the inner wall of the pocket terminates at-about the lower edge of the waistband a. The pocket is adapted to contain a protector e, preferably formed of some light metal, which is shown somewhat conventionally in Figs. 1 and 2. As is. customary with such protectors there may be secured along the, periphery thereof, .a strip of rubber or other yielding material, not shown, to cushion the protector on the body. The shape of the protector conforms generally to the shape of the pocket and to the body of the wearer so that it may be slipped into the pocket and will be held securely in proper relation to the body of the wearer. Certain features of the supporter pocket contribute to the proper positioning'of the supporter in the pocket and render the use of fastening means for the mouth of the pocket or the protector unnecessary. By arranging the fabric of the inner wall of the pocket so that it is extensible in a direction transverse to the direction of extensibility of the fabric forming the front wall of the pocket, the fabric of the pocket lends itself to the most effective engagement with the protector, taklng 1nto account the shape thereof to normally retain it in place within the pocket. In addition, the location of the pocket on the inside of the front section with the mouth somewhat above the lower edgeof the waistband, permits the mouth to be closed by the waistband when the supporter is adjusted to the body of the'wearer and the protector is prevented from slipping out of the ocket. When, as is the usual practice, the Waistband is also of elastic webbing the action just described is automatic.

What I claim is:

In an athletic protector and supporter, in combination, a clrcumferentially extensible waistband, leg straps, a supporter section of elastic webbing extensible in a direction perpendicular to the waistband and a iece of elastic webbing extensible in a irection substantially parallel with the waistband secured to the rear side of the supporter section and terminating above the lower edge of the waistband toform with the supporter section a pocket with its mouth adapted to be closed by the waistband when in position on the body of the wearer, and a metallic protector convex in transverse section and of similar outline to the supporter section and pocket and carried withln the pocket.

This specification signed this 23rd day of July A. D. 1923.

EDWARD J. THORP. 

